Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Andreas Bräuer

Publications and source records attributed to Andreas Bräuer.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Micro-optically assisted high-index waveguide coupling.

Adapting the concept of solid immersion lenses, we numerically study a micro-optical scheme for conventional high-index and photonic-crystal waveguide coupling by using a combination of different numerical methods such as ray tracing, angular-spectrum propagation, finite-difference time-domain simulations, and finite-element-method simulations. The numerical findings are discussed by means of impedance, group- or energy-velocity, spot-size, and phase-matching criteria. When fabrication constraints for high-index immersion lenses made of silicon are taken into account, a coupling efficiency of -80% can be reached for monomode silicon-on-insulator waveguides with a quadratic cross section of the core and rectangular cross sections of moderate aspect ratio. Similar coupling efficiencies of -80% can be obtained for silicon-on-insulator photonic-crystal waveguides. Tolerances that are due to misalignments and variations of the substrate thickness of the silicon lens are discussed.

Journal Article↗

Visual observation of Zener tunneling.

We experimentally investigate photonic Zener tunneling between the bands of a waveguide array by directly monitoring the propagating light inside this structure. For strong transverse index gradients we observe Zener breakdown as regular outbursts of radiation escaping from the Bloch oscillations. Tunneling to higher order photonic bands and Bloch oscillations in different bands have been detected.

Journal Article↗

Thin compound-eye camera.

An artificial compound-eye objective fabricated by micro-optics technology is adapted and attached to a CMOS sensor array. The novel optical sensor system with an optics thickness of only 0.2 mm is examined with respect to resolution and sensitivity. An optical resolution of 60 x 60 pixels is determined from captured images. The scaling behavior of artificial compound-eye imaging systems is analyzed. Cross talk between channels fabricated by different technologies is evaluated, and the influence on an extension of the field of view by addition of a (Fresnel) diverging lens is discussed. The lithographic generation of opaque walls between channels for optical isolation is experimentally demonstrated.

Animals↗

Artificial apposition compound eye fabricated by micro-optics technology.

By exploring micro-optical design principles and technology, we have developed an artificial apposition compound eye. The overall thickness of the imaging system is only 320 microm, the diagonal field of view is 21 degrees, and the f-number is 2.6. The monolithic device consists of an UV-replicated microlens array upon a thin silica substrate with a pinhole array in a metal layer on the back side. The pitch of the pinholes differs from that of the lens array to provide individual viewing angle for each channel. Theoretical limitations of resolution and sensitivity are discussed as well as fabrication issues and compared with experimental results. A method to generate nontransparent walls between optical channels to prevent cross talk is proposed.

Journal Article↗

Gas-phase temperature measurement in the vaporizing spray of a gasoline direct-injection injector by use of pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering.

Pure rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy is applied for quantitative gas-phase temperature measurements in the vaporizing spray of an automotive fuel injector. Interferences from elastically scattered stray light are greatly reduced by use of a polarization technique and spectral filtering in a double monochromator. The applicability of this technique to probing low-temperature sprays is successfully demonstrated.

Journal Article↗

Formation of micro-optical structures by self-writing processes in photosensitive polymers.

A local exposure of UV-sensitive polymers leads to a local curing. This corresponds to a saturable and irreversible nonlinear change of the refractive index, which evidently leads to a filamentation of the hardening polymer. This paper investigates the physical background of these effects and analyzes how the different influencing factors could be used for a steered, partly self-written formation of micro-optical structures. The structure formation is simulated on the basis of an iterative beam propagation method with consideration of a set of process parameters, e.g., the photoinitiator concentration or the exposure intensity. It is shown theoretically as well as experimentally that a variation of material- and exposure-specific process parameters gives opportunities for a controlled structure formation. The experimental realization of a configuration by use of a beam shaper within a UV contact exposure process is presented by means of the preparation of high-aspect-ratio conic structures.

Journal Article↗